Mod to Suedehead

I think I have said this before,elsewhere.If you like it and it it is smart wear, it.There is so much that is being worn today,that came much later than the Skinhead.I have fond memories of what Clothing I bought back in the 60s-and lets face it, what some of the older Boys have said about some of the Clothing I have written about-not being Skinhead.I saw it and wore a lot of it,so I know it was about.1969 was the year that freedom of choice ended,it was also the year the Skinhead Fashion starting dying.Ok so there were thousands of Skinheads then-but all wearing the same bloody Gear.They would have baulked against wearing Army Fatiques but they were all wearing a Uniform.



soundsnpressure said:

Both items are Skinhead items in my book.
They may not be vintage trad skinhead wear 68-72 etc, agreed.
But I like to mix my wardrobe with items I like from all the skinhead era's. Even late 70's revival (Not Oi! tho)

I think it would take great discipline to ONLY wear original late 60's skinhead items these days. Fair play and respect to anybody that does tho.
Depends how you look at it I suppose, and what you want out of it. Check shirts weren't wore at the start of the movement for example.
Was it just plain shirts and vertical stripes at first?

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There was a mixture,in the beginning.You could get Check Shirts,as well as Stripes and Plain from the Ivy Shop,Richmond.What happened later was-the Check Shirt got more massed produced with Brands such as Brutus etc.Everyboys` Uncle was wearing them.Sad but true!!!

Just a question. Were there any skins with patriotic or nationalist (not nazist!) attitudes in 60s?

Good points Brownie.



Big Muscle said:

Just a question. Were there any skins with patriotic or nationalist (not nazist!) attitudes in 60s?

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60s Skinheads had no interest in politics, can't even remember
anyone being patriotic, all we cared about was each other, the area we came from, and football.



browniecj said:

I think I have said this before,elsewhere.If you like it and it it is smart wear, it.There is so much that is being worn today,that came much later than the Skinhead.I have fond memories of what Clothing I bought back in the 60s-and lets face it, what some of the older Boys have said about some of the Clothing I have written about-not being Skinhead.I saw it and wore a lot of it,so I know it was about.1969 was the year that freedom of choice ended,it was also the year the Skinhead Fashion starting dying.Ok so there were thousands of Skinheads then-but all wearing the same bloody Gear.They would have baulked against wearing Army Fatiques but they were all wearing a Uniform.

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I’ve spoken to hundreds of original skinheads over the years and have been given many sides of a similar story. But I can’t believe regional differences are still often ignored.
For many originals, they know all about what was happening, from their position, their age group, their social status (i.e. school / apprentice / proper wages etc) and in their estate, their clubs, their shops and their part of the terraces. (And don’t get me wrong, I love it and could read about it all day!)
But what was going on 10 miles down the road had its variations. 50, 100 miles down the road, a very different slant on the same look.
So for an original skinhead to say “we wore that in ‘69” – great and probably a very accurate account. But to say “that was never worn by skinheads” is often a sweeping and inaccurate statement (from a holistic point of view).
Also, if you add to this what Brownie was saying earlier, the subtle differences in ’68 (before it was a media-coaxed youth cult) were pretty far reaching.



Big Muscle said:

Just a question. Were there any skins with patriotic or nationalist (not nazist!) attitudes in 60s?

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buttons said:

I’ve spoken to hundreds of original skinheads over the years and have been given many sides of a similar story. But I can’t believe regional differences are still often ignored.
For many originals, they know all about what was happening, from their position, their age group, their social status (i.e. school / apprentice / proper wages etc) and in their estate, their clubs, their shops and their part of the terraces. (And don’t get me wrong, I love it and could read about it all day!)
But what was going on 10 miles down the road had its variations. 50, 100 miles down the road, a very different slant on the same look.
So for an original skinhead to say “we wore that in ‘69” – great and probably a very accurate account. But to say “that was never worn by skinheads” is often a sweeping and inaccurate statement (from a holistic point of view).
Also, if you add to this what Brownie was saying earlier, the subtle differences in ’68 (before it was a media-coaxed youth cult) were pretty far reaching.

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I like this buttons.The thing that a lot of People forget is that the Movement that ended up as Skinhead,started in the early `60s.Just look at some of the Pictures from `64 and Mods are not all wearing Parkas.Short,cropped hair with Fred Perrys are there to be seen.(Mods).These were the true torch bearers for the later Skinheads.How I wished I had that much foresight! This was a Movement that took 5 years to become the dominant "Force of Fashion".Not the overnight sensation that the Media make out-and to be honest-some of the People who joined it later.



browniecj said:

I like this buttons.The thing that a lot of People forget is that the Movement that ended up as Skinhead,started in the early `60s.Just look at some of the Pictures from `64 and Mods are not all wearing Parkas.Short,cropped hair with Fred Perrys are there to be seen.(Mods).These were the true torch bearers for the later Skinheads.How I wished I had that much foresight! This was a Movement that took 5 years to become the dominant "Force of Fashion".Not the overnight sensation that the Media make out-and to be honest-some of the People who joined it later.

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Spot on mate!

I would just add on the regional issue that buttons flags up that we were actually pretty mobile. Holidays, football and shopping trips all ensured we kept the finger on the pulse - far more widely than just 10 miles down the road. Some people are always happy with a narrow comfort zone but I do think most here are aware of these issues.

As I have said. I travelled all over England with Football, and to be Honest I disregarded all I Saw outside London, as backward,
Also working in the Building trade, I worked all over London and Saw what other London Skinheads wore, and their was not a lot of difference, especially North of the River.



Lasttye said:

As I have said. I travelled all over England with Football, and to be Honest I disregarded all I Saw outside London, as backward,
Also working in the Building trade, I worked all over London and Saw what other London Skinheads wore, and their was not a lot of difference, especially North of the River.

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And it was true - London was the centre. It's not so much that there were regional variations as such, rather that everyone else was behind and would adopt things later and perhaps in a watered down way!

Wow, this thread is coming up on 3 years old. Doesn't seem like it's been that long.



DrBassie said:

Wow, this thread is coming up on 3 years old. Doesn't seem like it's been that long.

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Amazing , This thread is the most detailed account of the Original Skinheads ever written anywhere, A true Social history of the most least understood of all teenage fashion/ cults.



Brideshead said:

And it was true - London was the centre. It's not so much that there were regional variations as such, rather that everyone else was behind and would adopt things later and perhaps in a watered down way!

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As I have said before,there were minor variations within the London Area.Roy,you stated once that Two Tone was not prevalent in North London-and yet in East and South East London it was popular.Just one example.

The reason why this Thread has gone on for so long is-you have People contributing,who actually know what they are talking about.There may be slight differences but we all agreed in one thing.We were Skinheads!!!!

M-o-M,has the Book reached "War And Peace"Proportions yet???



browniecj said:

As I have said before,there were minor variations within the London Area.Roy,you stated once that Two Tone was not prevalent in North London-and yet in East and South East London it was popular.Just one example.

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That's what makes the thread so interesting, if everyone agreed with everyone else all the time it may well have run out of steam before now!

2-tone - something that originated in the midlands popular in in London, never

(edit: 2-tone the ska movement, Bad joke)